Native American Indian cheif called ???

Question

i wanna know what is the proper name given to the Native American Indian chief............

Answer 1

I cannot answer this question, but I can give you the information to ask a question that is answerable.

First, Native American describes anywhere up to about 500 distinct different peoples who inhabited this continent before the European settlers came. What their leaders may have been called would have depended upon the tribe and it's language.

Second, there were tribes which did not have a single leader. There was no one person who was "in charge" of things, or who had the final say.

In some tribes, there was a vote taken by a council of "Elders" - those who had lived long and gained much knowlege, and to whom people came with their issues. These elders would speak on matters, and using their combined knowlege and experience, come to a consensus about the issue before them.

It was not a matter of "majority vote" it was a matter of consensus - a decision was made when they all agreed. In matters of urgency - they all came to an agreement, or sent seperate ways, in matters of no urgency - decisions could take months - and if the matter was undecidable - how important could it have been?

In other tribes, there were some "headmen" or "headwomen" of various descriptions. Some were headmen of war, of peace, of ceremony/religion headwomen of gathering, moving camp, setting up camp and so on - and none of them really were "Cheif".

Among the Lakota, with whom I am most familiar, in the days before the White men came, there were several "cheifs", men to whom the tribe looked for guidance in varying issues.

Some were warriors, those accomplished in batttle, others were accomplished statesman, negotiating with other tribes, and yet others were accomplished in matters spiritual.

One of the things that is hard for Euro-Americans to understand, adn is not in text books, is the fact that these men and women generally had no real authority. NO ONE in the tribe was compelled to follow their orders. If a warrior had no confidence in a war "cheif" then they simply did not ride to battle with him. If the people lost confidence in their headmen, then he woke one mornign to find that the people had moved on, following someone else. Chiefs were only "leaders" by virtue of the fact that they did their thing, and the other people thought that they did it well enough and elected to follow them.

There was no "voting". If the people didn't like a leader, they simply followed someone else whom they believed would do a better job.

I am not aware of any position in traditional Lakota society in which one person had any kind of authority over another. They had influence, They had experience, and respect, but not authoroity...in fact, the word "authority" does not exist in Lakota.

I am not aware, either, of a Nation that had a "Chief" in the sense that is in question here. SOme had Rulers, like the Aztec....but they were not called Chiefs, Some had officials that were kind of elected by councils, but didn't have the power, or authority that seems to be assumed when one speaks of Chiefs.

Answer 2

There werent many tribes with "chiefs". When english people came around, they didnt understand their government. Because they were very democratic! This is mostly a name given by English people to describe the leader. In some tribes there was a leader, but he (or she) would have been someon who was respeceted, not obeyed. A shaman would be looked after for advice, but this was a spiritual leader.

A good example would be the 5 nations.

Answer 3

Cheif Sitting Bull

Answer 4

Whatever the respective title would be for any given language, since there are many languages among all Nations/tribes. In English...just Chief _________.

Answer 5

In some tribes, like the Potawaotmi, the leader is called a "chairman" or "chairwoman" not a "chief."

Answer 6

I am a Native woman. I can probably answer your question.

Can you include more information and/or details so I can get a better understanding of your question?

Answer 7

circulate to a powwow and tell each and every person that your grandfathers great grandfather replaced right into a Cherokee chief and that your completely obsessed . they are going to be in basic terms extremely joyful to fulfill somebody such as you, it extremely is extremely particular and unique----------ROFL

Answer 8

In my language, Muscogee, it's "Mekko".